Dac Crossley's Western Blog

Mexican Pioneers in South Texas

The Los Ebanos hand-drawn ferry was a blog topic last month. Pioneering families living in towns on the south bank of the Rio Grande reached their ranchos on the little ferry and in other crossings. They established their ranches on the north side of the river.

 Those Mexicans (later, they became Tejanos) built a ranching culture that survived until the 1880s, a culture well adapted to the harsh conditions of the region. A shared sense of community, shared religion, antipathy to Anglo-American influxes, tightly interconnected families, all produced a unique society.

 Andrés Tijerina details this history in his fascinating book Tejano Empire (see my Shelfari page). It’s a highly readable account of the evolution of the Mexican ranches in south Texas, from the Rio Grande to the Nueces River.  My impression, gained from history books, was that the area was a wasteland, a desert, inhabited by wild cattle.

 Wrong! Mexican pioneers originally settled the entire area, fighting Indians, building a community, a network of roads, conquering the desert. Their extensive ranchos were well established by 1836, the year of the Texas revolution.

 What would those Mexicans have thought, during the Republic of Texas years? Texas and Mexico each claimed ownership of the “Nueces strip.” Armies of both countries fought through the ranchos. After the Mexican War, the region became part of the United States. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) required South Texans to choose citizenship – Mexico or the United States. Most of the pioneers spoke little English and didn’t understand the American laws.

 I highly recommend Professor Tijerina’s history book. If you hope to understand South Texas, you need to read it.

 Dac 

2/28/2009

Frank Hamer, Texas Ranger

The blogger returns -- after days of organizing publicity and local sales for Return of the Texas Ranger. (A new advertising scheme -- book covers will be displayed on the door of a porta-potty beside the river).

I was wrong about Frank Hamer. I described him in Return of the Texas Ranger as I'd always pictured him -- in a suit, wearing a fedora, driving a Ford V-8, pursuing Bonnie and Clyde.

Hamer was, in fact, an old-time Ranger, raised on ranches in the Hill Country, where he learned tracking and became a dead shot. He served with distinction as a Ranger on the Border, building a reputation, finding Mexican friends across the Rio who cooperated with him in corralling bandits and smugglers. His biography was published by Gene Shelton -- "Manhunter. The Life and Times of Frank Hamer" (see my Shelfari page), a good read.

And, of course, he did capture Bonnie and Clyde -- if that is the word for it. Gene Shelton describes how Hamer used all of his tracking skills in pursuing the two killers, a pursuit that lead to the final shootout.

I've always thought that Hamer intended to capture Bonnie and Clyde, and that a trigger-happy deputy unleashed the barrage that destroyed them. Mike S. has corrected me -- the two bandits had resolved to die fighting. They had a large arsenal of weapons in their car and were prepared to use them. It was the old Ranger rule -- "Shoot first."

Dac

"When a man looks into the abyss and nothing looks back at him, that's when his character springs forth."  -- Frank Hamer.

(I'll be pleased to sell you a copy of Return of the Texas Ranger by mail, postpaid and autographed to you, for fifteen dollars. Send me an e.)

Return of the Texas Ranger

Finally, it's here!  Return of the Texas Ranger  is published!  It's available now on Amazon, or better yet, directly from me. Follow the further adventures of Red Regan, Whitey Wilson and Nacho Ybarra, ten years later. Prepare for surprises!

For Fifteen dollars postpaid and personally autographed to you.

   Dac Crossley

P. O. Box 903

Athens, Georgia 30603-0903

soilmite@earthlink.net

The Meaning of Groundhog Day

When I was a child, my father took delight in Groundhog Day (actually, he took delight in almost everything). It was a time for making jests and talking of plans for Spring. I really didn't know what a groundhog was; it didn't seem to matter.  

I didn’t realize the significance of February 2. It is midway between the Winter Soltice (December 21) and the Spring Equinox (March 21). Winter is exactly half over. 

Groundhog Day seems to belong to the US and Canada. In Europe it has other traditions. In Ireland, it’s Saint Brigit’s Day. Brigit was a pagan goddess, of fire and fertility, later taken over by the Christian Church. Brigit received offerings of bread. It was the time to begin plowing the fields, and a loaf of bread was placed in the first furrow. 

In the Christian Church today is Candlemas, celebrated with (what else?) candles. It denotes the purification of Mary (40 days after the child’s birth, a Jewish tradition). This evening, I think I'll fire up a few candles myself. 

Isn’t the world-wide web wonderful? You can learn so much with just a few clicks!

So, today, Groundhog or no, I am looking forward to Spring. Daffodils are up, the sun shines bright (there springs the shadow!) and Ill start my pepper seeds.

Happy Groundhog Day to all --

Dac

2/2/2009

and a Happy Birthday to Robert G., who now joins us in our maturity.